What to automate first when the workflow is already moving

Start by finding the work that happens often, touches more than one person, and creates delay when it is missed. Those loops usually have a better return than automating a rare executive report or a process that still changes every week.

A useful first pass is to score each workflow by frequency, risk, handoff count, and clarity. High-frequency, high-clarity work should move first because the team can verify the outcome quickly.

The best first automation is rarely the flashiest one. It is the workflow people already trust enough to repeat and dislike enough to improve.